Chapter Seven
Confrontation
Zarrak landed on the beach much harder than he
expected. he cut a comical figure, wadeling
around, trying to get his land legs back. After
all he had been flying for around 12 hours!
The white beach swept slowly, gracefully
into the crystaliine waters of the bay. Zarrak
looked up, and saw the lush, dripping jungle.
Though the region seemed deserted, he
knew he was being watched. He could
practically see the pairs of eyes watching
him from that jungle.
Zarrak quelled whatever flickers of fear were
darting around in his heart. Who was he to
worry? he was Zarrak! Nothing could harm
him!
With this thought in his mind, Zarrak strode
purposfully towards the jungle, and whatever
awaited him there. But he had not even
travelled 3 paces when the vegetation parted,
and a figure walked out to face him.
Zarrak stopped and stared.
She was just a little shorted than he was, yet
the way she held her head up high made him
want to flinch. She was slim, yet lithe. She was no
wisp of a...a...whatever she was. her form was
attractive, and her aurmor was the same
azure color of the bay that now faced his back.
Zarrak was drawn most to her eyes.
They were yellow, nothing really remarkable
about that, but they radiated wisdom and serenity,
and at this moment wariness and a touch of fear.
Just by gazing into those clam pools of yellow,
Zarrak felt like he could be lost in them forever!
Whoever she was, she was slowly, cautiously
walking for him.
"Hello!" Was the first thing that Zarrak culd
think of saying, and he cursed himself for it. There
was something else about her gaze...like...like
she could see right through him...
"Greetings!" She relied, and Zarrak felt chills
run through him at the cool sound of her voice.
"I am the Toa Nuva of Water, Gali Nuva. Are you
Zarrak?"
Zarrak couldn't be sure what on earth a toa
was, but he was glad that he knew the name of
this being. Gali. Very pretty, like herself!
"Ah,yes!" Mr. Suave Zarrak nearly stammered
"I Am Zarrak..."
He watched her eyes again. Gali was still very
much afraid of him.
'But why?' He thought, taking a step towards
her, and watchng her flinch, 'Why? I won't hurt
her!'
Gali kept her disance
"And what is a Zarrak?" She asked, sounding as
though she were choosing her words very, very
carefully, "A strange type of rahi? A kind of
vegetable, perhaps?"
She was mocking him, Zarrak knew. He could
tell by the edge of defiance that had krept into her
voice. Zarrak let it go, however. He was still
contemplating her question.
"I...i don't know what a Zarrak is!" He
realized,
feeling flustered. What was it about htis
beautiful Gali Nuva that tied up his tongue so? " I am Zarrak!" He said, doggedly ,the only
thing he knew for sure, the only thing he was
absoloutly positive of
There was some new emotion in Gali's eyes,
now. Pity? Sorrow? Only s shread, so he could
not be sure.
Something stirred in Zarrak's chest, a beast,
perhaps? It reared it's ugy head, and Zarrak's
features twisted themselves into a scowl. Pity?
He was not to be pitied! He was Zarral!
"Don't pity me!" Zarrak growled, surprised
at the unintended harshness in his tone. At the
moment he expressed his sudden anger, he
felt a wave of power release unbidden from
himself, crashing over Gali and sendind the
Toa to her knees, groaning.
"Gali!" Someone cried.
Zarrak looked up, and saw quite a sight. 5
other warriors, looking the same as gali, except
lacking her...feminesence came sprinting out onto
the beach from the jungle. The White one rushed
to Gali, and cradeled her head. The Red one
turned and glared at him, while the others took
positions around him as if they ment ti fight!
"What have you done?" The Red Toa spat, hate
etched brutally into every syllable
"Please-" Zarrak began, not even sure he knew
what he had done himself
"Your evil is not welcome here!" The stocky
Black Toa said, with that same darkness in his
tone.
Zarrak was feeling confused. The beast that
had reared it's head in him not so long ago was
sleeping again, a smile across it's face. Zarrak
had not meant to hurt Gali! But now here...friends?
Wre drawing weapons on him, looking murderous
and preparing for a fight!
Zarrak was backing away.
'What are you doing?' That nagging voice in his
head demanded, 'You are Zarrak! Who are they to
threaten you with meager powers and tools! If they
want a
